As popping corks announce the New Year, champagne lovers can expect some radical new trends in the art of savouring a tipple that for centuries has been associated with celebration.

The true connoisseur should ditch the traditional long-stemmed flutes and the saucer-shaped coupes and instead start drinking the sparkling white wine from elongated, tulip-shaped glasses, say the experts.

And those seeking to be truly avant-garde should start serving the finest bubbly from carafes.

French designer Julien Anglade, has come up with a hybrid yacht concept harking back to the golden days of luxury ocean cruises.

The 150-metre IKKAR accommodates 50 passengers in ultimate luxury along with a crew of 60 to look after them.

the hybrid yacht is capable of changing its shape according to the location as well as comfort of the passengers.

On December 08, 2009 Marie Christiane Marek hosted “The Designers’ Christmas Trees” at the Cite de l’architecture et du patrimoine in Paris.

World-famous designers have sold 20 Christmas trees for a total of 41,500€ to be donated to The Foundation headed by France’s First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

Since 1996 several famous names have taken part, including Stella McCartney, Jean Paul Gaultier and Marc Jacobs.

While more and more Hollywood actresses are starring in fashion commercials, it has become common practice to put celebrities of equally high caliber behind the cameras.

All the campaigns and the photos after the jump

Described as an “ultra contemporary design”, this 91-metre superyacht concept has just been unveiled by French designer Arnaud Anseeuw.

Named ‘AA’, the futuristic project has been inspired by advanced technologies and aerospace developments.

It is equipped with fuel cell propulsion and has the option to have its own satellite to create a personal network between a fleet of yachts.